A pair of Caracara (Mexican Eagles) migrate through our property, sometimes sticking around for a week or so. For that reason, I bought a Byrd Cara Cara for myself and one for my helper for work knives. They are a good value and we have been very pleased with them.

SpyderEdgeForever wrote:Mad Mac, would you say the Cara Cara would do well in cutting up beef steaks and butchering chickens and fish for meals ?

Probably, but really can't say. I bought the Spyderco kitchen knives for that sort of thing. I'd be reluctant to use a folder for food preparation. However, I did flick open a Spydie in a restaurant once to dissect a tough steak. My thought behind buying a Cara Cara for a work knife was that it was affordable enough that I would not be afraid to use it, abuse it or lose it.

I use my cara cara 2 once a week when i cook a chile,and my meadow lark 2 every day to clean and cut up potatoes.They both keep a better edge than any of my wife's regular cooking knifes.Plus they were cheaper.Great value keep it up Sal..

Well, I could be wrong, I often am, but I don't think that we will be seeing upgrades. The whole purpose of the Byrd line is so the Company can offer knives with low price points and thereby increase market share and continue to grow.

A significant segment of the market can not or will not buy expensive knives. The Byrd knives give entry to this huge market. Ultimately, some of these customers will appreciate the design, craftsmanship and quality of Byrd knives and "upgrade" themselves to Spyderco knives.

On the Comparison Thread I posted a picture comparing the Caracara to a 1990 vintage Endura and it is posted again here for Byrd enthusiasts who might have missed it.

I must admit, they don't get carried very often due to the plethora of other choices.
But I do love my Cara Cara's!
Got myself a G10 one first and a stainless one later.
About 2 years ago I got a custom one, been carrying that one a bit more than the others.

A tiger has claws,
A wolf has teeth,
An eagle has talons.
We, have Spyderco.

Not a knife story, but a Crested Caracara tale. Sunday morning, a dozen Black Vultures were lined up at the edge of the pond where I had killed a Nutria the day before. Only one was working on the dam-destroying aquatic rodent so I looked through the spotting scope I have set up and it was not a Black Vulture.

It was a Caracara also known as a Mexican eagle. One vulture stepped too close and the Caracara raised its wings and talons in full attack mode. The vulture backpedalled and the eagle resumed ripping and tearing at the carrion. Even though the Caracara was a little smaller than the vultures and was outnumber eleven to one, the vultures stood without moving a feather watching their brunch disappear.

The Caracara is a serious falcon, a raptor, a bird of prey,
but not above fighting for a ready to serve meal.

It is said that the definition of confidence is the feeling one has until one finds out all the facts.

I was confident there would be no Cara Cara upgrades and pontificated as much in an earlier post. To my surprise, I have discovered variations of Cara Cara knives offered by the Company now include a choice of titanium, stainless and G-10 handles, a rescue version and a black blade with black clip. Perhaps blade steel upgrades are in the future after all.

I love the FRN handle for use with gloves, great in the winter and camping. The blade shape and size works great for so many uses (I've even chopped kindling with it). BUT, the blade pivot has never "broken in" for me. Even when I loosen the pivot so the blade has play except when locked open, it is still very stiff. And the lock itself is very stiff. I can open and close with one hand, but compared to my Tenacious it's night and day. The Tenacious is the smoothest opening blade I own, regardless of where it is made. Easy to open, easy to close, smooth as silk and no play. I understand I'm comparing a $20 knife to a $40 knife, but they're both made in China so I am surprised how different the pivot action is.

Anyone have suggestions on how to get a smoother opening and closing action out of the Cara Cara? Or is this just how they work...